Winter - Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust Ltd

FROM HERE AND THERE
Hydrology
Directors work to a regular pattern of meetings. On the second Wednesday of each
month we have our Board meeting which deals with all major issues, both current
and future. These are carefully structured and take a detailed and measured view of
the Trust’s activities. There is not time to deal with much of the detail which we have
to consider and we therefore have a rotation of group meetings, usually on the fourth
Wednesday, to deal with Policy, Project Planning, Engineering and Land. Until recently
Funding was part of this rotation but we have now decided to include this on the
agenda of each of the groups. The meetings are attended by the directors especially
interested in the topic and by other officers and advisors. The Engineering Group
has recently expanded considerably and now includes several specialists who add
greatly to the discussions. We recently called an expanded version of Engineering to
a meeting at Lichfield Rugby Club to look at issues of water supply to the Lichfield
Canal. This is becoming a crucial area as we look at how we water sections of the
canal as restoration proceeds and before we can link to the obvious source at Ogley
Junction. At Tamworth Road, where the adding of water to the restored section is
becoming imminent, we have discussed how we might use the water from the
culverted water course (Big Pipe), once all the permissions are in place. We now
have some very useful ideas to be explored in greater detail.
BW on the Hatherton
The section of the Hatherton from the Wolverhampton to Cannock road to the M6
motorway is in British Waterways ownership. This former section of the Staffs &
Worcester is still an important part of the water supply system. The Trust works on
this section by courtesy of BW. Some large trees have been felled behind the Roman
Way Hotel which should help with the general appearance of the site and with public
safety. We now hear that dredging of the channel is now planned but with an
undertaking not to place the spoil on the towpath which caused considerable
inconvenience last time. BW is also in discussion with the land owner at Cats Bridge
where the dispute over boundaries has become live again. We are pleased that BW
is being proactive over determining the fence line.
M6 Developments
A few years ago we were hopeful that the congestion on the M6 around Junction 11
and northwards would push the Highways Agency towards a major widening scheme.
Had this happened it would have opened the possibility of restoring the navigation
channel through the embankment. Political pressures and financial restraints seem
to have caused the Agency to adopt the hard-shoulder running or active traffic
management. This is disappointing but it is hard to believe that the widening project
will not be approached again before long. The congestion at the confluence of the
M6 and M6 Toll and continuing pressure to link the M54 to M6 northbound cannot be
managed electronically for ever.
Cut Both Ways 21
Winter 2009/10